Information Needed to Maximize Consultant’s Visit
Filed under: Ask Grant, Food Plots
In your experience as a consultant for so many years, what type of information does a landowner or land manager, in my case, need to have available to get the most out of a visit from a professional consultant? We have been managing this farm in Alabama for several years but it’s time to step it up a notch. I read my QDMA magazine, “Farming for Wildlife,” and of course watch GrowingDeer.tv. I have implemented several of the common techniques that have been described in the articles and episodes. Thus, we have a grasp of the habitat management basics. What is your advice when meeting with a wildlife consultant? How should I be prepared for the consultation to be most productive? In order to go to the next level and reach our potential we need a few visits with a professional.
Ben
Ben,
I can only speak for my firm. The two most important items we need to prepare a wildlife and habitat management prescription are:
- The client’s realistic objectives
- The resources available to be used in the prescription
It is critical to the success of the plan that the consultant understands the client’s realistic objectives. This is because there is a large continuum of management possibilities. Sometimes the client’s objectives are very general. This seems easy, but actually causes problems as without specific objectives, the management plan can’t be customized for maximum efficiency. In addition, general plans allow the client to interpret them one way and the consultant another.
“Realistic” also means that simply hiring a consulting wildlife biologist won’t guarantee a Boone and Crocket behind every tree next fall! The consultant should discuss the client’s objectives before accepting the job. Unrealistic expectations will result in a dissatisfied client and a bad reputation for the consultant.
It’s just as important for the consultant to understand what resources are available as it serves no purpose to prescribe management activities that are not practical to implement. For example, prescribing the establishment and maintenance of 20 acres of food plots when there is not a tractor available doesn’t help the landowner or wildlife population. Likewise, prescribing fire as a management tool for a leased property may be useless if the client doesn’t have permission to burn.
Wildlife management is as much of an art as it is a science. The artist can only be as creative as the tools available for use allows. To get the most out of hiring a consulting wildlife biologist, make sure they know the realistic objectives and what tools are available to implement the plan.
Growing Deer together,
Grant
